Ministries

This is a fun, friendly fellowship of quilters who come together to share their craft. Learn from one another, and unite in mission to help others in need. This group has provided quilts for our soldiers serving in Afghanistan, Displaced people suffering after Hurricane Katrina and the fires of Arizona, and has also provide quilts to be sent overseas to various missions and orphanages served by Lutheran World Relief.

In addition to these projects, the group also provides a ready supply of prayer quilts, which we use to tie “Prayer Knots” and bestow upon the sick and injured.

If you have a hobby, craft, or small business that involves thread string or yarn, then this is the group for you. Come and work on your project, share your ideas, and enjoy the company and fellowship of other crafters in the area. Opportunities periodically allow you to showcase some of your work if you choose. Don’t have a craft but think you might like to try? Well come on down and we’ll get you started.

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) is the official women’s auxiliary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. For over 75 years, the LWML has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and to support global missions.

The mission of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League is to assist each woman of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in affirming her relationship with the Triune God so that she is enabled to use her gifts in ministry to the people of the world.

One of the things LWML is doing in our church is the Mite Box. Based on the Biblical account of the widow’s mite (Luke 21:1-4), the Mite Box is intended for regular contributions of “mites” – offerings above and beyond the support given to congregations and the LCMS. Mite Box contributions amount to millions of dollars that fund district and national mission grants and implement the LWML program. For more information on this, and the LWML, go to www.lwml.org.

Our Health Ministry has a multi-faceted approach. Monthly articles through our newsletter, and available through email, offer tips and information on health topics. Some from the concerns of current events, others out of the interest and questions from the perishers. Links also are available to our District Health Ministry, and of course the LCMS Synod web-site, health ministry in the “Mercy” emphasis.

Periodically we offer and arrange health services from licensed organizations such as Lifescan, Hospice, and Elder Care.

Quarterly talks are offered from Palomar Health, and notices are provided for workshops and speaker presentations in the area, many free or low cost. Don’t forget to look for our annual Health Fair held on our campus. Vendors and professionals in the industry come out to share and to show the latest going on in their local areas of expertise.

Mount Olive Lutheran Preschool is accredited through the NLSA (National Lutheran Schools Association) and is a Christian ministry for our congregation as well as an outreach to the surrounding community. Our school provides young children an excellent early childhood education within a Christ-filled atmosphere where they can rejoice and grow in God’s grace.

For more information, visit www.mtolivepreschool.net

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2, NRSV).

Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one lay caring ministry that takes place in congregations that use the Stephen Series system. Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers—called Stephen Ministers—to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting.

We all, at some point, fce circumstances in our lives where we just need a friend to help us walk through it. Mount Olive’s Stephen Ministers are trained and practiced laypeople, who come along side us in our grief, difficulty or other life trial. For more about Stephen Ministry, visit www.stephenministries.org If you would like to know about having a Stephen Minister, contact Pastor Bill at mountolivepastor@gmail.com. All communication is confidential.

God alone is the author of life, and so as His people, we hold fast to the idea that all life matters, and so life, and quality of life, value of life, and liberty to live life are paramount ideals of Mount Olive.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Life Ministry is devoted to upholding the sanctity of human life, both in our church body and the culture at large. We are actively involved in a variety of domestic and international programs to support and encourage life “in the image of God.”

By supporting women and children through crisis pregnancy centers, providing educational materials and opportunities, reaching out to youth through a Christian chastity program, and working closely with allies such as National Lutherans For Life and the National Pro-Life Religious Council, Life Ministry is carrying the banner that life is sacred. Life Ministry at Mount Olive provides monthly articles on current topics, Links to other local and regional activities and organizations, and participates in many local arenas. Mount Olive works also with local organizations such as Life Choices, Elizabeth Hospice, and more.

Visit www.lcms.org/life for more information about life issues and see also the vast library of resources and information found there.

You would like to know more about events in our your area, or would like to share information about an event in your area, email LifeMinistries@psd-lcms.org. To get involved here at Mount Olive, contact Pastor Bill at mountolivepastor@gmail.com

We love, support, encourage and pray for our military men, women, and families, both active and veteran. Many of our members and Preschoolers are military or veteran. San Diego County is a Military community.

Through the Marine Corp “Unit Adoption” program, the City of Poway has adopted 1st LAR Bn out of Camp Pendleton. As a part of the Poway Community, we join in focusing our efforts there, but certainly we do not forget our neighbors here at Miramar and North Island.

At 1st LAR we provide snacks and refreshments as well as conversation and company to families waiting for soldiers to return from deployment, and join in the welcoming home of these sons and daughters, husbands and wives.

We help with deployments, special events, family days, and Christmas celebrations with our soldiers and families.

Some financial assistance is also sometimes offered through our tax deductible Military family assistance fund.

At the VFW post, we join and share in fellowship and conversation with the veterans, and learn from their stories and use these to help those returning home today. Also in support of 1st LAR, the VFW has helped with care packages to deployed servicemen, and supplying meals to all on Veterans Day.

The local Fleet Reserve is often a hangout for Pastor Bill and Elder Dan on “Taco Thursdays” Here again, we join in the comadery and the lives of those who gather. Special commemorative services are held for Veterans Day and Memorial Day and Flag Day. An annual flag retirement and thank you to our veterans are held at the preschool on the Friday morning preceding Memorial day. Many local government officials and community leaders come out for this very moving event.

We would love to do more, but to do more, we need more. Will you help? Contact the church office for more information.

The power of prayer is undeniable. Prayer changes things. If you have need, we would like to have our prayer warriors pray for you. Contact Pastor Bill at mountolivepastor@gmail.com All communication is confidential.

Are you a prayer warrior? Or think you might like to be one? Come join the fight. Contact the Church Office for more info. Prayer groups are forming now.

Helping people in need is one of the tenants of the Christian Faith. Through a cooperative relationship with local area churches, and the resources and skills of North County Interfaith Services, Mount Olive has established a satellite center on our campus. Too often, and too easily, anyone can find themselves in a period of difficulty or transition. To help make the journey “Interfaith” can help. Check the link for specifics about Interfaith, and if you have a need, come and speak with an intake resource specialist from Interfaith here at Mount Olive. Services offered vary in range and availability as well as seasonal. www.interfaithservices.org

Do you like to read? To you like sharing with others a dialogue about what you got out of the book? Just looking for a fellowship opportunity? Book Club is for you. Meet regularly with snacks and friends and enjoy a hearty discussion with peers.

By the way, do you prefer to wait for the movie to come out? Look for and help us build a Movie Club here at Mount Olive.

During the summer, we host a week long camp for families. Vacation Bible School always has a fun theme with awesome music. Bible buddies help them learn Bible verses and are there at story time as well as crafts and games.

VBS has something for every age, allowing families to have time together learning and talking about their day. Each year, they create memories and friendships that will stay with them through the school year and beyond.

For more information, please email the youth coordinator at mtolive.youth1@gmail.com

Monthly tips from financial experts from Thrivent, Lutheran Church Extension Fund and other trusted resources provide insights into current events concerning our financial futures. Quarterly workshops deal with information about saving for college, preparing for retirement, Insurance issues, Social Security, and various forms of savings and investment accounts.

Stewardship offers us information about how to manage our money, care for the environment, and learn the joy of funding missions locally and around the globe.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Disaster Response ministry responds to immediate and long-term needs following natural and man-made disasters. Working through LCMS districts and congregations as well as with international Lutheran churches and other partners, LCMS Disaster Response builds capacity of the church’s partners to respond to needs with Christian care. The ministry reaches out to LCMS congregations and their communities with services that include on-site assessment, emergency relief and development grants, pastoral care for LCMS church workers and members, and other resources. www.lcms.org/disaster Lutheran Early Response Teams are organized locally and are prepared to help local communities relieve physical and spiritual suffering during and after a disaster. Mount Olive is taking steps to provide a training and forming a team here in Poway to work alongside local first responders.

Find helpful resources to prepare yourself and your home in an emergency www.lcms.org/disaster/resources#disaster-response-3

Through the Chamber we reach out to business leaders and owners as well as local government officials to learn about and share with them the concerns and issues facing our community, and relating them to our congregants to better serve the needs of the citizenry of Poway and our neighbors.

Every other month, we meet with State, county and city officials to learn about upcoming legislation, to voice our opinions and concerns, and to work together for a proper balance of church and state. Issues are shared with our congregants and discussed in many of our small group settings.

This is a monthly gathering around the sharing of a meal and conversation about whatever comes to mind. Great fellowship.